One of the most essential metal albums recorded, Judas Priest’s British Steel inspired a generation of bands from Metallica to Sepultura. Released in April 1980, the band had just completed a tour supporting AC/DC around Europe. Singer Rob Halford later suggested they took some cues from the Australian rockers’ instant riffs when writing this record. 

The album was recorded at Tittenhurst Park in Berkshire, the former home of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. It was released to critical acclaim and is to this day revered as one of the genre’s seminal albums. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked it third in a list of the 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. 

An incredible live band, the songs from British Steel are fixtures in Judas Priest’s legendary shows. This month, we’re celebrating 45 years of this landmark album by looking back at some big performances of these epic songs! 

Breaking the Law at Mid-South Coliseum, 1982

Opening British Steel with this criminal riff, Judas Priest’s rebellious hit reflected the socio-political turmoil of the UK in the early ‘80s. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked it as the 4th Greatest Heavy Metal Song of all time. The band’s Live Vengeance ‘82 release was recorded at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee in December 1982. Rob baits the crowd to a rapturous response as he introduces Breaking the Law on stage, launching it with felonious passion. The concert was originally released on VHS, then later reissued in 2004 on DVD as part of the Metalogy compilation box-set. 

Living After Midnight at Live Aid, 1985

This ode to the pursuit of pleasure became one of Judas Priest’s biggest hits, reaching number 12 on the UK singles charts. It was a hit in the US too, where British Steel became the band’s first gold album, eventually reaching platinum certification. In July 1985 they joined the lineup for Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s Live Aid concerts, performing this hedonistic hard rock monster in front of 10,000 people at the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia. Thrashing through with unbridled energy, showmanship, and an enormous Marshall stack, Judas Priest looked at home in front of the thousands of fans cheering them on. 

Metal Gods at Hammersmith Apollo, 2012

Originally released as the b-side to single Breaking the Law, the lyrics to Metal Gods were inspired by Rob’s love of science fiction. Recorded prior to digital sampling, the sounds in the song were actually made with billiard cues and trays of cutlery. The band’s Epitaph live concert was filmed at Hammersmith Apollo in 2012 and released on DVD the following year. An epic production of lights, smoke and grandiose stage design, it platforms Judas Priest at their most theatrical, still embracing the 80s metal aesthetics which made them so integral to the genre. Nearly five decades since the release of this song, they can surely own the title. 

United at Seminole Hard Rock Arena, 2009

The final single to be released from British Steel, United spent two months on the UK singles chart, peaking at number 26. Written to be a crowd shout-along, the group vocals at the end were friends and family members overdubbed in the studio. In 2009 as part of their 30th anniversary tour, Judas Priest decided to play British Steel in its entirety for the first time ever. Their August concert at the The Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood was filmed and later released on DVD. A firm favourite for many fans, this tour brought together three decades of hits with epic production and peak performance. You can hear the sheer excitement of the crowd as they join in at the end of this unifying anthem. 

Breaking the Law at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, 2022

Certified silver in the UK and platinum in the US and Canada, British Steel is an essential part of musical history, so it was only right that Judas Priest performed opening track Breaking the Law when they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Introduced by Alice Cooper who described them as “the definitive metal band,” they launched into this song’s iconic opening riff with passion and flair as fellow musicians like Dave Grohl and Lenny Kravitz rocked out in the crowd. British Steel is famous for its high quality, and Judas Priest continued that legacy with this massive record.